Lifting Equipment For Handling A Wind Turbine Component And A Method For Handling A Wind Turbine Component

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a lifting equipment for handling a wind turbine component in connection with lifting means. The equipment comprises a base frame with at least one attachment area, and at least two attachment points for said wind turbine component. The at least one of said attachment points are adjustable mounted in relation to said base frame. 
     The invention also relates to a method for handling a wind turbine component.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a continuation of pending Internationalpatent application PCT/DK2007/000313 filed on Jun. 27, 2007 whichdesignates the United States and claims priority from Danish patentapplication PA 2006 00893 filed on Jun. 30, 2006, the content of whichis incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to lifting equipment for handling a wind turbinecomponent and a method for handling a wind turbine component.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Transportation and lifting of the different sections of a wind turbineis always a challenge and especially wind towers or tower segments arequite unmanageable. The shape and dimensions of the units vary from unitto unit e.g. because of the conical shape of wind towers.

Usually the tower segments of a wind turbine are mounted with liftingequipment at the tower flanges.

EP patent no. EP-B 1 303 447 discloses an example of a known liftingsystem wherein an outline of a gripping device for a wind turbine towersegment. The gripping device can be fastened to the tower segment in acertain position on the flanges, by screw connections through holesadapted to said flanges. The holes in the gripping device are arrangedaccording to the holes in the flanges of the tower section.

A problem with the solution of the above mentioned EP-patent is that dueto the unlike attachment points on the different segments, differentunique gripping devices has to be produced and used when erecting a windturbine. Consequently the erection process will be prolonged and moreexpensive than necessary.

An object of the present invention is to describe a lifting devicewithout the mentioned disadvantages and especially does not involvechanging operations of lifting equipment during erection of a windturbine.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention provides lifting equipment for handling wind turbinecomponents in connection with lifting means, said lifting equipmentcomprising

a base frame with at least one attachment area, and

at least two attachment points for said wind turbine component

where at least one of said attachment points are adjustable mounted inrelation to said base frame.

Hereby it is ensured that the lifting equipment can be adapted and usedwith a plurality of different wind turbine components where the distanceand relative angle between attachment points of the components vary.

In one aspect of the invention said wind turbine component is a windturbine tower segment. Hereby it is ensured that one lifting equipmentcan be used with any of said tower segments including the lower segmentswith larger diameters and the upper segments with smaller diameters e.g.when erecting a conical wind turbine tower. Furthermore the same liftingequipment can be used when handling the different segments in connectionwith manufacturing and transportation.

The preferred attachment points of wind turbine tower segments are theconnection holes of any flange of the segments.

In another aspect of the invention at least one of said attachmentpoints comprises at least one sleeve with a through going hole whichcentre is dislocated from the centre of said sleeve in order to performan eccentric movement within the area of a hole in said base frame. Itis hereby ensured that the distance and angle between at least twoattachment points of the lifting equipment can be adjusted to desiredpositions i.e. the sleeve hole may be positioned at a desired positionwithin the area of the hole of the base frame.

In another aspect of the invention the base frame comprises at least onethrough going hole, the area of said through going hole in the baseframe being substantially larger than the area of said hole in at leastone sleeve e.g. at least twice in size in relation to a hole in said atleast one sleeve. Hereby it is possible to achieve a high degree offreedom to place the hole of the sleeve anywhere within the area of thehole of the base frame.

In another aspect of the invention the number of sleeves is two, firstand second sleeve, which are partly or totally integrated into eachother or into the base frame e.g. in depressed areas of the base frameand sleeve, respectively. By integrating the sleeves into each other anenhanced stability can be ensured. Further by entering locking meansthru the sleeves and base frame at the integration areas it is possiblein an embodiment to lock them to each other e.g. during transportation,positioning etc.

In a further aspect of the invention said first sleeve is located in adepressed area of said base frame and a second sleeve is located in adepressed area of said first sleeve opposite to the base frame. Herebyit is achieved a higher stability in especially a perpendiculardirection in relation to the attachment of the wind turbine component.

In an even further aspect of the invention the eccentric movementbetween the holes in said two sleeves and the eccentric movement betweenthe hole in the first sleeve and the hole in the base frame allows adouble eccentric movement of the hole in the second sleeve in relationto the base frame. It is hereby ensured that it is possible to place thehole in the second sleeve over any desired position within the area ofthe hole in the base frame which gives the maximum flexibility of theinvented lifting equipment.

In another aspect of the invention said first sleeve comprises a throughgoing hole with a diameter larger than the diameter of the hole in saidsecond sleeve and said base frame comprises a through going hole with adiameter larger than the diameter of the hole in said first sleeve.Hereby is an advantageous embodiment of the invention achieved.

In another aspect of the invention at least a further attachment pointcomprises a mounted strut in relation to the base frame. It is herebyensured that shear stress between the wind turbine component and theinvented lifting equipment especially during the initial lifting can behandled by a non-movable part of the lifting tool. Furthermore whenplacing the invented lifting equipment on its location of operation e.g.on the flange of a wind turbine tower section, the steering of thelifting equipment is eased by using the fixed mounted strut as aguard-pin.

In another aspect of the invention said strut in relation to the baseframe is replaceable e.g. to a strut with another diameter and/or lengthand/or shape such as triangular or circular. Hereby it is ensured thatan optimal elaborated strut can be used and adapted to the inventedlifting equipment dependent of e.g. the elaboration of the attachmentpoint or attachment area.

In another aspect of the invention the lifting equipment comprises anarea for handling, such as when fixing said lifting equipment to a windtower component. Hereby it is ensured that a crane or similar liftingmeans can be used e.g. when placing the invented lifting equipment onits location of operation and thus ensuring that the operating peopleare not required to lift the equipment to the location manually.

In another aspect of the invention said base frame comprises an area forconnecting said lifting means e.g. a hole for attaching a crane wire andhook. Hereby it is ensured that a crane or similar lifting means canadvantageously be used after placing the invented lifting equipment onits location of operation.

The invention also provides a method for handling a wind turbinecomponent, said method comprising steps of

attaching lifting equipment according to one of the above-describedembodiments to said wind turbine component,

connecting lifting means to said lifting equipment, and

handling the wind turbine component to a desired position.

Hereby is an advantageous method to be used with the lifting equipmentachieved.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be described in the following with reference to thefigures in which

FIG. 1 illustrates a large modern wind turbine as seen from the front,

FIG. 2 a illustrates a conventional lifting equipment attached to a windturbine tower segment,

FIG. 2 b illustrates an exploded view of a conventional liftingequipment attached to a wind turbine tower segment,

FIG. 3 illustrates schematically a section of a wind turbine component,

FIG. 4 a illustrates a three-dimensional view of one embodiment of theuniversal lifting tool according to the invention,

FIG. 4 b illustrates a first side view of one embodiment of theuniversal lifting tool according to the invention,

FIG. 4 c illustrates a first cross sectional view of the universallifting tool according to one embodiment of the invention,

FIG. 4 d illustrates a second side view of one embodiment of theuniversal lifting tool according to one embodiment of the invention,

FIG. 5 illustrates a second cross sectional view of the universallifting tool according to one embodiment of the invention,

FIG. 6 a illustrates schematically a three-dimensional view of apreferred embodiment of the invented universal lifting tool according tothe present invention,

FIG. 6 b illustrates schematically a first side view of a preferredembodiment of the invention,

FIG. 6 c illustrates schematically a second view of a preferredembodiment of the invention,

FIG. 7 a illustrates schematically the invented universal lifting toolwhen attached to a wind turbine tower segment with a first radius,

FIG. 7 b illustrates schematically the universal lifting tool accordingto the invention when attached to a wind turbine tower segment with asecond radius,

FIG. 8 illustrates schematically an explored view of a preferredembodiment of the present invention attached to a wind turbine segment,and

FIG. 9 illustrates schematically a view of a preferred embodiment of thepresent invention attached to and lifting a wind turbine tower segment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 illustrates a modern wind turbine 1, comprising a tower 2 and awind turbine nacelle 4 positioned on top of the tower 2. The tower 2 isbuild up of a plurality of tower segments 3. The wind turbine rotor 5,comprising three wind turbine blades 6, is connected to the nacelle 4through the low speed shaft which extends out of the nacelle 4 front.

FIG. 2 a illustrates schematically one tower segment 3 with flanges 7.Said flanges are constructed with a number of substantially equallyspaced holes or connection points 8 around its centreline which is usedfor attaching the tower segments 3 when the tower 2 is erected.

Besides for used in the purpose of attaching the tower segments to eachother, the connection points 8 are often used as attachment points forlifting tool 9 during manufacturing, transportation and installation. Asan example when erecting a wind turbine tower 2, lifting tool 9 can beattached to e.g. 2, 4 or 8 locations distributed around the flange 7.

During installation and erection of a wind turbine tower 2 saidplurality of different tower segments 3 must be placed on top of eachother or on top of a foundation and be securely attached at saidattachment points.

The process of erecting a wind turbine tower comprises steps of

-   -   attaching lifting tool 9, 12 to one or more locations around the        flange 7,    -   attaching lifting means to said lifting tool 9, 12,    -   a first sequence of lifting the tower section 3 from the ground.        In this sequence the forces acting between the tower section 3        and the lifting tool 9, 12 changes from being primarily shear        forces (when the tower section 3 is in substantially horizontal        position) to primarily tension forces (when the tower section 3        is free of the ground and is in substantially vertical        position),    -   a second sequence of positioning the tower section 3 to its        installation position on top of a foundation or an other tower        section 3, and    -   a third sequence of attaching and securing the tower section 3.

FIG. 2 b illustrates an exploded view of one embodiment of the prior artof a conventional lifting tool 9 connected to said attachment points 8during e.g. installation. The lifting tool comprises a base frameincluding an eyelet for the purpose of attaching e.g. a shackle 23connected to lifting means (e.g. a crane) thru a wire 11.

During lifting the clamping bolts 10 are exposed to the gravitationalforces of the tower via sheer and tension and must be dimensioned tocomply with this.

FIG. 3 illustrates an origin to a problem with prior art. Dependent onthe construction of e.g. the flanges 7 of a wind turbine tower segment3, the distance % between the attachment points 8 and the angle αrelative to horizontal may vary. This means that a lifting tool withfixed attachment points can only be attached to a component withattachment points distributed in a similar way. As e.g. the ends of windturbine tower segments may have different radius and may have a variablenumber of attachment points, said l and α may vary in relation to thedifferent tower segments. For the purpose of lifting, a different set oflifting equipment may therefore be required for each tower section.

FIG. 4 a illustrates a three-dimensional view of a universal liftingtool 12 according to one embodiment of the present invention.

For this embodiment the universal lifting tool 12 comprises a base plate13, a lifting plate 14 and two side plates 15 which in total constitutea base frame for the invented universal lifting tool.

The lifting plate 14 comprise an eyelet 21 for the attachment of towerlifting means e.g. via a shackle 23.

One of the side plates 15 comprise an eyelet 22 for the attachment oftool lifting means to be used when the invented universal lifting tool12 is to be manoeuvred to its operating position.

In one embodiment the invented universal lifting tool 12 is to beattached to three attachment points e.g. 8 of a flange 7 of a windturbine tower section 3.

A middle attachment point comprises a strut 19 that penetrates the baseplate 13 and is fastened to the base plate such as with two screws 20.The strut can be replaced dependent on the diameter of the connectionpoints 8 and can be e.g. 30 mm, 36 mm, 42 mm or 48 mm in diameter.

FIG. 4 b illustrates a first side view of the invented universal liftingtool according to one embodiment and illustrates the strut 19penetrating the base plate 13.

One function of the strut 19 is to carry shear forces between theuniversal lifting tool 12 and the flanges 7 during said first sequenceof lifting at said process of erecting a wind turbine tower 2.

FIG. 4 a further illustrates that the two distal connection points ofthis embodiment 12 each comprises sleeves 16, 17 and a bush 18 locatedon top of each other.

A first sleeve 16 is formed with a substantially circular hole 25dislocated from the centre point of said first sleeve 16. Said firstsleeve 16 can rotate around its centre point as indicated by the dashedarrows.

A second sleeve 17 is also formed with a circular hole 26 into which thebush 18 fits. The centre of said hole 26 is dislocated from the centrepoint of said second sleeve 17. Said second sleeve can rotate around itscentre point as indicated by the dashed arrows.

The diameter of said hole 25 in said first sleeve 16 exceeds thediameter of said hole 26 in said second sleeve 17.

For the described embodiment of the invention, the base plate 13 isformed with a circular hole 24 for each distal attachment point (shownon FIG. 5). The diameter of said hole 24 exceeds the diameter of saidhole 25 of the second sleeve 16.

By placing the first 16 and second 17 sleeve on the base plate 13 asillustrated in FIG. 4 a, and furthermore rotating them in relation toeach other, it is possible to bring said hole 26 in the second sleeve 17in position within the area of said hole 24 in the base plate 13 asdesired with the positive result, that the distance l and the angle αrelative to the fixed attachment point embodied by the strut 19, can bechanged to desired.

It is hereby achieved that one lifting equipment 12 can be adapted tothe connection points 8 of any tower section 3 despite of the angle αand distance l between the points 8.

This is further illustrated in FIG. 4 c where an exploded view of theattachment point 16 b-18 b, 13 of one embodiment of the lifting tool 12is shown. It is illustrated that the holes 25, 26 in said first andsecond sleeve 16 b, 17 b respectively is dislocated from theircentrelines c1, c2 and that dependent on the rotation of the sleeves 16b, 17 b in relation to the base frame 13, the hole 26 in the secondsleeve 17 can be brought in position within the area of said hole 24.

FIG. 4 d illustrates a second side view of one embodiment of theinvented lifting equipment. It is illustrated that the angle between thelifting plate 14 and the base plate 13 may be different from 90 degrees.

FIG. 5 illustrates a cross sectional view of one embodiment of theinvented lifting equipment comprising a base plate 13, a first sleeve16, a second sleeve 17 and a bush 18.

In one embodiment the first sleeve 16 can be countersunk and fitted inthe base plate 13. For said embodiment a pointed screw 28 is used forthe purpose of keeping said first sleeve 16 positioned duringmaneuvering of the lifting equipment.

In another embodiment the second sleeve 17 can be countersunk and fittedin the first sleeve 16. For said embodiment a pointed screw 28 is usedfor the purpose of keeping said second sleeve 17 positioned duringmaneuvering of the lifting equipment.

FIGS. 6 a, 6 b and 6 c illustrates different views of a preferredembodiment of the invented universal lifting tool.

As illustrated in FIG. 6 a for this preferred embodiment, the universallifting tool 12 comprises a base plate 13 that constitute a base frameand an eyelet 21 for the attachment of tower lifting means.

FIG. 6 a further illustrates that two connection points of thispreferred embodiment 12 each comprises sleeves 16, 17 and a bush 18located on top of each other.

This example of a preferred embodiment is to be attached to threeattachment points e.g. 8 of a flange 7 of a wind turbine tower section3.

A middle attachment point (not illustrated in FIG. 6 a) comprises astrut 19 fastened to the base plate 13. For various embodiments thestrut can be replaced dependent on the diameter of the connection points8 and can be e.g. 30 mm, 36 mm, 42 mm or 48 mm in diameter.

Further a first sleeve 16 is formed with a substantially circular hole25 (not illustrated at FIG. 6 a.) dislocated from the centre point ofsaid first sleeve 16. Said first sleeve 16 can rotate around its centrepoint as indicated by the dashed arrows.

A second sleeve 17 is also formed with a circular hole 26 (notillustrated on FIG. 6 a) into which the bush 18 fits. The centre of saidhole 26 is dislocated from the centre point of said second sleeve 17.Said second sleeve can rotate around its centre point as indicated bythe dashed arrows.

The diameter of said hole 25 in said first sleeve 16 exceeds thediameter of said hole 26 in said second sleeve 17.

By placing the first 16 and second 17 sleeve on the base plate 13 asillustrated in FIG. 6 a, and furthermore rotating them in relation toeach other, it is possible to bring said hole 26 in the second sleeve 17in position within the area of said hole 24 in the base plate 13 asdesired with the positive result, that the distance l and the angle αrelative to the fixed attachment point embodied by the strut 19, can bechanged to desired.

It is hereby achieved that one lifting equipment 12 can be adapted tothe connection points 8 of any tower section 3 despite of the angle αand distance l between the points 8.

For one preferred embodiment the eyelet 21 is constructed in such a waythat it penetrates the base plate 13 allowing tower lifting meanscomprising one or more lifting wires to be established through saideyelet 21. This is further illustrated in FIG. 8.

The entrance/exit traces of the eyelet 21 are curved and angled as tominimize stress on the wires and the base plate 13.

For various preferred embodiments, portions of the entrance/exit tracesof the eyelet 21 are rotatable parts 27 and can follow any variation inangulation that occur e.g. when a connected horizontal positioned towersegment is raised to vertical position.

FIG. 6 b illustrates a first side view of a preferred embodiment of theinvention comprising a strut 19.

FIG. 6 c illustrates a second view of a preferred embodiment of theinvention.

FIGS. 7 a and 7 b illustrates schematically one embodiment of theinvented universal lifting tool 12 attached to flanges 7 of wind turbinetower sections 3 with two different diameters.

FIG. 7 a illustrates a preferred positioning of the two sleeves 16 and17 for a flange 7 with a first radius r1.

FIG. 7 b illustrates a preferred positioning of the two sleeveseccentrics 16 and 17 for a flange 7 with a second radius r2 (i.e.r1>r2).

FIG. 8 illustrates schematically a preferred embodiment of the inventeduniversal lifting tool 12 attached to flanges 7 of a wind turbine towersection 3 and with attached lifting wire 11.

FIG. 9 illustrates schematically the invented universal lifting tools 12attached to a wind turbine tower segment 3 when the segment is lifted tosubstantially vertical position.

1. Lifting equipment for handling a wind turbine component in connectionwith lifting means said equipment comprising a base frame with at leastone attachment area, and at least two attachment points for said windturbine component characterized in that at least one of said attachmentpoints are adjustable mounted in order to perform an eccentric movementin relation to said base frame.
 2. Lifting equipment according to claim1, wherein said wind turbine component is a wind turbine tower segment.3. Lifting equipment according to claim 1, wherein at least one of saidattachment points comprises at least one sleeve with a through goinghole which centre is dislocated from the centre of said sleeve in orderto perform an eccentric movement within the area of a hole in said baseframe.
 4. Lifting equipment according to any of claims 1, wherein saidbase frame comprises at least one through going hole, said through goinghole in base frame being substantially larger than said hole in at leastone sleeve.
 5. Lifting equipment according to claim 3, wherein thenumber of sleeves is two, first and second sleeve, which are partly ortotally integrated into each other or into the base frame.
 6. Liftingequipment according to claim 3, wherein said first sleeve is located ina depressed area of said base frame and a second sleeve is located in adepressed area of said first sleeve opposite to the base frame. 7.Lifting equipment according to claim 3, wherein the eccentric movementbetween the holes in said two sleeves and the eccentric movement betweenthe hole in the first sleeve and the hole in the base frame allows adouble eccentric movement of the hole in the second sleeve in relationto the base frame.
 8. Lifting equipment according to claim 4, whereinsaid first sleeve comprises a through going hole with a diameter largerthan the diameter of a hole in a second sleeve and said base framecomprises a through going hole with a diameter larger than the diameterof the hole in said first sleeve.
 9. Lifting equipment according toclaim 1, wherein at least a further attachment point comprises a mountedstrut in relation to the base frame.
 10. Lifting equipment according toclaim 9, wherein said strut in relation to the base frame is replaceablee.g. to a strut with an other diameter and/or length and/or shape suchas triangular or circular
 11. Lifting equipment according to claim 1,wherein the lifting equipment comprises an area for handling, such aswhen fixing said lifting equipment to a wind tower component. 12.Lifting equipment according to claim 1, wherein said base framecomprises an area for connecting said lifting means.
 13. Liftingequipment according to claim 12, wherein said area for connectinglifting means comprises rotatable parts.
 14. A method for handling awind turbine component, said method comprising steps of attachinglifting equipment to said wind turbine component by performing aneccentric movement of at least one attachment points included in theequipment, connecting lifting means to said lifting equipment, andhandling the wind turbine component to a desired position.
 15. Liftingequipment according to claim 4 wherein said hole in base frame is atleast twice the size of said hole in said sleeve.
 16. The liftingequipment according to claim 5 wherein the depressed areas of the baseframe and first sleeve are at least partly integrated into each other.17. Lifting equipment according to claim 12 wherein said lifting meansis a hole for attaching a crane wire and hook.